I have 3 aged 5,3,1 and drive to Newcastle regularly on my own with the 3 of them! I find leaving around 6pm and with portable DVD's does the trick, stopping once usually at LEicester services. They get to watch a movie and then sleep 2nd half of journey.

Thank you, so much, we'll certainly try those next time
Best wishes
Julia

Can recommend Heights of Abraham - lots of fun for the kids - cable car, caves, play areas etc. You need plenty of change for the (public) car-park.

Next time you could try Gulliver's Kingdom in Matlock Bath, roughly half way between Derby and Chesterfield. It's a theme park but very suited to small kids and when we went during the summer hols of 2012 it was pretty empty so there was no queuing. Food was a bit rubbish I seem to remember so you might want to pack some sarnies. It's in the Peak District with lovely views so nice for the parents too! Alternatively there's something called the Heights of Abraham very nearby which is a cable car ride up a hill with things to do on the top, but you'll have to google it as we didn't go there.

Hi, visiting in laws this weekend, normally we travel post bedtime and the kids (4 and 1) are asleep before we have left the '25. However we're too knackered to drive at night and had a horrendous trip last time where they tag teamed until Leeds crying. So we're trying the leave early and stop somewhere for a couple of hours for some food and to wear them out before stage 2. Any suggestions of good places roughly equidistant between London and Newcastle enclose to the M1 or A1?

Many thanks
Julia x